Join our newsletter
Sign up for email updates on new product arrivals, promotions and information
In the annals of antique furniture, certain pieces stand out for their exquisite materials and craftsmanship, serving as a testament to the eras they represent. The William IV kingwood pedestal writing table, hailing from circa 1835 England, is one such artifact. It epitomizes the pinnacle of refinement in furniture making during a time when attention to detail and quality of material were paramount.
The table’s surface is a study in the subtle opulence that characterized the early 19th century. It features a rectangular top with elegantly curved corners, offering a gentle counterpoint to the strict lines that often define furniture forms. This surface is not merely functional but also an exhibition of the rich, complex grain patterns of kingwood—a timber reserved for the highest quality works due to its beauty and rarity. Its use here speaks of the status and sophistication of the piece.
Veneered throughout with kingwood, the writing table showcases this wood’s deep, rich hue and fine texture, characteristics that have long made it sought after by connoisseurs and craftsmen alike. In the 17th century, kingwood was known as ‘Princes wood’, a nod to its exclusivity and cost. That this writing table is fashioned almost entirely from such a material indicates it was intended for a patron of considerable means and exquisite taste.
The table is fitted with two functional drawers and two dummies, a design that maintains aesthetic symmetry while providing practical storage space. The drawers are likely to have held the precious writing accouterments of the time—quills, inkwells, and parchment—serving a writer’s needs while enhancing the room’s visual appeal.
Supporting the table’s top are solid kingwood end supports, showcasing the wood’s durability and strength. The end supports are connected by a turned stretcher, a feature that not only stabilizes the structure but also adds an element of design sophistication. The platform base, adorned with gadrooned bun feet, adds to the piece’s stability and aesthetic charm, grounding the delicate beauty of kingwood in a firm foundation.
This William IV writing table stands as more than a functional library table; it is a piece of history, a snapshot of the luxury and elegance that defined its time. Measuring 75cm in height, 120.5cm in width, and 68cm in depth, it presents a sizeable canvas of craftsmanship. In it, we see a reflection of the era’s values—where beauty was harmonized with function, and the materials spoke as clearly of status as the craftsmanship itself.
Nicholas Wells Antiques advisors are available to answer all your questions.Â
Discover the antiques you missed, and register your interest for similar pieces.
Stock Number: 6281
This rarefied unique piece is subject to availability.
Call directly to secure it:
Telephone:Â +44 (0) 207 6920 897
Sign up for email updates on new product arrivals, promotions and information
© 2022 Nicholas Wells Antiques Ltd, All rights reserved
If you are interested in this piece and would like to see if there is any movement on price, please fill in the required details below.
Please note, making an offer excludes packing and shipping.
"*" indicates required fields
Thank you for registering your interest. If it becomes available again, we shall be in touch.
"*" indicates required fields
Register your interest in similar items. Please elaborate on your requirements and budget in the text box below.
"*" indicates required fields
Find it. Love it. Art Money it.
Any list price purchase is applicable.
Benefit from 0% finance over 10 months with our finance partner Art Money.
Additional packing and shipping charges are added to the total.
Please contact us if you would like to benefit from this service.
"*" indicates required fields
Approximate Dimensions
If you have any specific questions regarding this piece, please use the form below.
"*" indicates required fields
Our description of any item on the website, any condition report and any other statement made by us (whether orally or in writing) about any item, including about its nature or condition, artist, period, materials, approximate dimensions, or provenance are our opinion and not to be relied upon as a statement of fact.
In the UK Online sales of this kind are known as ‘distance selling’. We offer a refund to customers if you’ve told us within 3 days of receiving the goods that you want to cancel. You have another 14 days to return the goods once you’ve told us of your intention. A refund will be issued within 14 days of receiving the goods back in the same condition. Return shipping should be the same level as received with insurance, we recommend using the same shipper at your cost. If needed we will help organise suitable shipping.
We will refund the purchase price, excluding delivery costs and taxes, within 14 days of the safe receipt of items in the same condition as supplied. The liability for any damage incurred during transit will remain with the sender. We recommend that adequate insurance is placed on items when returning them to us.
All returns must be communicated prior to an item being sent back.
We extend these Return terms to our international clients.
We will ship worldwide however the costs vary between countries so please email us for a quote. Depending on the item we will recommend the most suitable method.
Our preferred international shipping methods include fine art shippers Gander and White, Art Logistics, Cadogan Tate for items over £5,000. For Fedex, DHL or UPS shipments we expertly pack in-house in wooden crates or heavy duty cardboard – Suitable for most items under £5000. If you have your own shippers we are very happy to coordinate with them.
All items are sent fully insured at the invoice value.
All items are inclusive of all local taxes but may be subject to additional charges for importation and taxes local to the client. Antiques are zero-rated to the USA, all items ship with the correct paperwork. While we are not liable for these additional charges we do encourage clients to research these prior to purchasing items from us. We will make a full value disclosure, as required by the insurance, on all items sent overseas. This is required to ensure proper insurance cover in sending valuable items.
Where required we will oversee the completion of all export licenses for high-value items. We will also arrange for CITES paperwork for materials of endangered species including ivory, tortoiseshell, stuffed birds etc.
This is dependent on the size and value of the object, all items are checked over and polished before shipping and will generally have wooden crates made. This all takes time so expect 10 – 20 working days for delivery unless the item is small in which case 2-3 days from order.
Every effort is made to make Customs Clearance as quick as possible, items held in customs are out of our control. They may require documents / ID to release the goods, please keep this in mind, it is just procedure.
All our antiques now also come with an invoice as a Valuation Certificate for insurance purposes.